MOT cost .
BMW S 1000
MOT 2023
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BMW

S 1000

9,099 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where S 1000s pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.

That's 15.1 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,988 tracked models — a confident result.

Pass

90.9%

Pass-after-fix

5.1%

Fail

3.7%

Avg miles

12,932

Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%

The picture

S 1000: a strong MOT record by UK norms

Across 9,099 MOT tests, the S 1000 returns 90.9% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a missing rear reflector. A non-conforming number plate and tyre tread under the limit round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 12,932, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.

Top ten reasons for rejection.

  1. 01

    Reflector missing or reflecting white to the rear

    57 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  2. 02

    Number plate does not conform to the specified requirements

    53 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  3. 03

    Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements

    51 occurrences · 0.6% of tests

  4. 04

    A headlamp missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED

    29 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

  5. 05

    Brake lining or pad worn below 1.0mm

    27 occurrences · 0.3% of tests

  6. 06

    A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps

    21 occurrences · 0.2% of tests

  7. 07

    A wheel bearing excessively rough

    21 occurrences · 0.2% of tests

  8. 08

    Reflector colour or position not in accordance with the requirements

    19 occurrences · 0.2% of tests

  9. 09

    A footrest missing or insecure

    18 occurrences · 0.2% of tests

  10. 10

    Exhaust noise levels in excess of those permitted

    18 occurrences · 0.2% of tests

Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.

Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures

£165–£370

If every one of this S 1000's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →

Try the calculator

Build your own retest budget.

Tools that pre-empt a retest.

Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.

Item 01 · Amazon UK

MOT-spec replacement number plate

Faded or non-standard plates fail outright. Replacements take ten minutes online with V5C details.

Search Amazon UK

Item 02 · Amazon UK

Digital tyre-tread depth gauge

Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.

Search Amazon UK

Item 03 · Amazon UK

Headlight restoration kit

Yellowed lenses fail the light-output test. A restoration kit lifts the haze in an afternoon for £20.

Search Amazon UK

Buying or keeping a S 1000?

Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.

If you own a S 1000 and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.